The Inn Crowd Cooking Show on Location Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

 

 

 

 

 

Air Force One Photo Wikipedia

Craig Case, host and producer of The Inn Crowd, and celebrity Chef Michael Hutchings welcomes Stephanie Davis to The Inn Crowd cooking show. In this two part episode, we are on location at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, located in Simi Valley California.  Stephanie was an advance team planner for special events during the President Reagan era and related a number of stories about the Reagan's dining preferences and a few inside stories about Air Force One. Stephanie flew on the same jet on a number of occasions.

Air Force One, the designated jet of the United States president, is designed to impress and intimidate as well as transport our head of state. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library has on display the retired Air Force One from that era. The iconic aircraft has been the backdrop of many diplomatic missions and is now at the library positioned as though taking off on another mission. We were delighted to have the jet in the background of our field kitchen.

 

From Wikipedia "The plane first entered service in 1972 during the administration of Richard Nixon. SAM 27000 replaced the aging SAM 26000 as the primary means of presidential travel, although SAM 26000 remained as a back-up plane. SAM 27000 served seven presidents in its twenty-nine years of service: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush."

 

 

Filming in Progress 

Stephanie Davis, John Heubusch Craig Case, Chef Michael

We taped two shows at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The first menu was a recreation of President Reagan's first meal as the newly inaugurated president. The menu reflects the lighter "California Cuisine" style that was just coming into vogue at the time. First course is a "California Vegetable Salad" that I interpreted in my own style. Main course featured a Breast of Chicken Picatta flanked with asparagus, little summer squashes  and a classic rice pilaf. Dessert went very simple with fresh California berries and almond crescent cookies. Of course, there was the Monkey Bread and wines from California drawn from the Foley Family Wines cellars.

On the second taping, the menu went to comfort foods. This is the type of dinner the Reagan's would enjoy in their private chambers on TV trays. The cook book by Henry Haller, chef to five presidents, served as my guide to a number of the recipes we recreated. A Belgian endive salad from Nancy Reagan's repertoire was followed by the famous meatloaf with baked macaroni and cheese. Dessert was a Brown Betty, an apple dessert from the old school and a favorite of the Reagan's.

Join is on The Inn Crowd Saturdays at 9:30 on ABC affiliate KEY channel 3. View the show on-line at the Santa Barbara News Press. Look to the right side of the web page for a link to the show. YTS Digital Films filmed and directed this show. 

Put your flaps down, fasten your seatbelt and pull back the throttle. I'll provide the recipes, the rest is up to you. See you in the Air Force One Pavillon!

Tastefully,

Chef Michael Hutchings

 

Chicken Breast Picatta Photo W. Conlin

 

 

 

Coupe of Fresh Berries Photo W. Conlin

 

 

 

 

Belgian Endive Salad Photo W. Conlin

 

 

 

Mac and Cheese, Meatloaf Photo W. Conlin

 

 

 

Apple Brown Betty Photo W. Conlin

 

 

Robitaille's Inaugural Mints, Photo Craig Case with the Reagans, Jelly Beans

View from Library Terrace

Jelly Belly Jelly Beans 49 Flavors

All recipes copyright 2015 Michael Hutchings, All Rights Reserved

Photo Credits William Conlin YTS Video Productions, unless otherwise noted.

Craig Case Producer, Case Productions

 

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